detailed History

A retired science teacher of 32 years, Captain "Jim" Gladson has served as the president and visionary of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, a volunteer non-profit organization that he founded in 1992. It actually all began during the final 18 years of his teaching career with LAUSD when he developed and operated a “sail training” program with students from the Alternative schools where he was teaching. The students, their parents and the other staff members were consistent with their positive evaluation of the program and the importance of the educational benefits, both for the enrolled students and the school as a whole.

When the School District offered an early retirement program in the winter of 1991, Jim Gladson seized that as an opportunity to pursue the realization of a long held vision of a program designed to meet the needs of a much larger community of under-served youth. He was able to visualize a model for a character-building youth sail training program to be operated by a non-profit organization, composed of trained, skilled community-minded volunteers who would acquire, maintain and crew a sailing vessel suitable for the purpose. With his successful 18-year track record and more than an adequate ability to articulate the vision, it was relatively simple (in hindsight) for him to garner broad based community support for its implementation.

In 1992, Captain Gladson and a small group of his friends and associates became affiliated with the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, forming the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation). With less than $5,000 in donated funds and a one room office in the depths of the Maritime Museum, they sought a suitable vessel for purchase. A short time later, the Swift of Ipswich, a U.S.C.G. certified 70’ topsail schooner, was purchased with the help of loan from a local foundation, and they started sailing with groups of kids as the TopSail Youth Program. Inspired by Captain Gladson's dedication and vision, the loan was paid back in only three and a half years through the generosity of hundreds of local supporters, many of whom witnessed first hand, as volunteers, the results of this unique and nurturing program.

In 1997, due to the success of the program and the demand by a local youth agency for 260 additional sailing days, a second vessel, the 95-foot schooner Bill of Rights, was obtained. Since then, the TopSail Program has continued to demonstrate such notable success that the Institute completed construction of two 90’ brigantine tall ships designed and built specifically for the program - an estimated $8 million project! The Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson were launched on April 27, 2002. These new state-of-the-art vessels and their youth crews were proclaimed "The Official Tall Ship Ambassadors of the City of Los Angeles" by Mayor James Hahn and the Los Angeles City Council.

What has been the "secret" to the success of the TopSail Youth Program? It's the realization that nearly any kid will respond and grow beyond your fondest hopes when treated with dignity, respect and unconditional confidence in them - all presented with love. Not only did Jim Gladson come to understand that, but also he found that there are hundreds of others in our community who willingly and eagerly will join in such an endeavor and contribute, on an ongoing basis, generous amounts of time, sweat and cash to keep it happening.

Jim Gladson readily admits that he has been a "tree hugger" from way back, but noted that, while it's important to focus on protecting and respecting the environment, he believes that there is one endangered species that we cannot turn our back on - our next generation. It's imperative to look after the children headed toward trouble.

During the 2001-2002 school year alone, the TopSail Youth Program provided almost 6,000 youth sailing days to 67 different schools and youth organizations. In that year, volunteers logged over 47,000 job specific hours (the equivalent of about 24 full-time employees).